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For The Love Of Shrubs
Meet The 2009 Prairie Garden
By Jim Kohut, Staff Writer
The 2009 Prairie Garden - Deciduous Shrubs - is now available in bookstores and garden centers across the Prairies and the northern States!
Following is the formal press release from the Prairie Garden committee;
"Guest editor, Dr Philip Ronald, believes that many gardeners draw fresh inspiration for gardening from the annual edition of The Prairie Garden, now a time honoured tradition for prairie gardeners.
The non profit editorial committee embraced the theme of shrubs for the 2009 annual to celebrate the 70th Anniversary Edition of The Prairie Garden. The topic was narrowed to focus on Deciduous Shrubs with their diverse, four season attractiveness. For readers' inspiration an expanded 32 page colour section marks this special anniversary edition with many photographs of these exciting ornamentals.
The deciduous shrub is a standard item in nearly every residential and commercial landscape, but is far from mundane. Two hundred cold-hardy shrub cultivars and species commonly available in prairie nurseries provide unending variety and selection. Tremendous diversity of colour, texture, size and shape can inspire the newest or most experienced green thumb.
The front cover features Diabolo Ninebark in bloom. Diabolo was first released in 1999 and represents a large and exciting group of purple leafed ninebarks, now very popular in prairie gardens, each variety with slightly different attributes, but all with vigor and outstanding foliage colour.
Contributing prairie authors reveal the world of deciduous shrubs to you, the reader, with articles on Azalea, Barberry, Dogwood, Hydrangea, Lilac, Maple, Potentilla, Spirea, and Sumac, many of the most popular shrub species. Tips for maintaining healthy shrubs are mingled with stories from plant breeders who discuss their efforts in developing new shrub cultivars. You will also find short lists of favorite shrubs submitted by a panel of experts from across the Northern Plains.
General article topics range from attracting birds and butterflies to home landscape, to a refresher on tree disorders. An in depth look at Bronze Leaf Disease which has recently spread in Poplars across southern Manitoba will offer timely information to those with the problem. The entomologists in our readership will be pleased to find articles that examine the health of prairie bee hives and the secret life of ticks."
Fellow Northscapers, as a former Guest Editor and a continuing member of the Prairie Garden committee, let me say outright that this is my favorite book - even more so than my own! Those who know me know that I'm a tree and shrub guy, and let me tell you, this lives up to my every expectation. Buy yours now - it is well worth the few bucks it will cost you!
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